Vapor generating and control apparatus for combustion chambers



Dec. 5, 1950 R H. GODDARD 2,532,710

VAPOR GENERATING AND CONTROL APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION CHAMBERS FiledJune 25, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l amaam INVENTOR.

d 9 1051656117. oddalzd, Dec'd 1 6337682 6. Godda ad gm 411; w

I ATTORNEYS Dec. 5,

Filed June 25, 1947 1950 R. H. GODDARD 2,532,710

VAPOR GENERATING AND CONTROL APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION CHAMBERS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I g]; 5 J? J IIIIIIIIIL: I I

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 5, 1950 VAPOR GENERATING AND CONTROL APPA- RATUS FORCOMBUSTION CHAMBERS Robert H. Goddard, deceased, late of Annapolis,

Md., by Esther C. Goddard, executrix, Worcester, Mass., assignor ofone-half to The Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application June 25, 1947, Serial No.756,865

6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for generating steam or other vaporand for efiectively controlling the period of such generation. Theinvention is capable of somewhat general application but is particularlyapplicable to the quick starting of a. combustion chamber which, when inoperation, provides power to pump combustion liquids thereto.

One object of the invention is to provide means for quickly generatingvapor under pressure from a measured quantity only of one of thecombustion liquids, as liquid oxygen, for each successive period ofoperation.

A further object is to provide means to salvage any unused liquid whichmay remain after the combustion chamber is in full operation. Means isalso provided for automatically stopping vapor generation as soon as thecombustion chamber is in full operation and for making the initialmeasured quantity of liquid available for the next operation.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

Preferred forms of the invention are shown in v the drawings, in whichFig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the improvedstarting and control mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of a portion of a flanged pipe to bedescribed;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a modified and somewhat simplerconstruction;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional plan view, taken along the line 4-4 in Fig.3; and

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional elevation showing a further modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a combustion chamber C is supplied withgasoline, oxygen and water through pipes H], II and [2. The threeliquids are delivered through any suitable feeding devices or sprayopenings to the combustion chamber.

The liquids are supplied to the pipes 10, II and I2 by pumps l4, I5 andI6 mounted on a shaft I1 and rotated by a turbine T. The three liquidsare led to the pumps through feed pipes ill from storage tanks or fromany other conveniently available source.

When the combustion chamber C is in full operation, the gasoline andliquid oxygen sprays intermingle and are consumed and the hot combustiongases evaporate substantial quantities of water supplied by the pump l5through the pipe l2. The resulting mixture of steam and combustion gasesis discharged from the chamber C under substantial pressure through apipe or conduit 20 and all or a portion of this generated vapor isconducted through a pipe 20a to drive the turbine T. The turbine thenoperates through the shaft l1 to drive the pumps and to thus supply thethree liquids to the combustion chamber.

The shaft I! may be extended and connected to drive other mechanism, ora portion of the generated vapor may be taken off through a pipe 20b forany desired purpose, such operation being controlled by a valve 22.

Obviously such a combustion chamber would not be self-starting, as thepumps will not operate until a supply of vapor under pressure isavailable for the turbine T.

The-present invention relates particularly to the provision of startingapparatus for quickly supplying vapor under pressure to operate theturbine, and also relates tocontrol devices for discontinuing theoperation of the starting apparatus as soon as the combustion chamber Cis in full operation.

For the defined purpose, a storage tank 30 is provided which is filledwith some very cold liquid, such as liquid oxygen, through a pipe 32 andvalve 33. The tank 30 is normally maintained under substantial pressureand is shown somewhat einlargedwith respect to the chamber C.

A receptacle 4!) is mounted in the tank 30 and has a lower extension 4|connected to a pipe 42, a portion of which is preferably submerged inany available liquid, as water, in a tank 44. This liquid should be atatmospheric pressure and temperature.

The end of the pipe 42 is preferably connected to an enlarged pipe 45,which in turn is connected through its curved end portion 45a into thecombustion gas discharge pipe 20 of the combustion chamber C. As a coldliquid, as liquid oxygen, is allowed to flow through the pipe 42, theliquid is evaporated by the relatively warm liquid in the tank 44. Theexpansion of the liquid oxygen, when turned to vapor, fills the pipes45, 45a, 20 and 20a with vapor under pressure, which in turniseflfective to operate the turbine T and to deliver the necessaryliquids under pressure to the chamber C to initiate operation thereof. Asuitable ignition device, such as a spark-plug 50,-

is provided for the chamber C.

The pipe 42 is preferably provided with a large number of discs 52 bywhich the evaporative effect of the liquid in the tank 44 is greatlyincreased. A preferred construction is shown in Fig. 2, in which thediscs 52 preferably have portions extending into the pipe 42 and curvedor offset in the direction of how, so that they increase the exposedcooling suriace and also produce vortices as indicated and whichsubstantially increase the rate of evaporation. Additional discs 54 maybe provided on the enlarged pipe 45. These latter discs are not immersedbut provide substantial surfaces exposed to the surrounding air.

The flow of liquid through the pipe 42 is controlled by a double valveV2 mounted in the receptacle 40 and having upper and lower valveportions 56 and 51 adapted to close corresponding ports in the top andbottom of the receptacle A pipe 58 extends upwardly from the receptacle40 through the top of the tank 30 to a small closed casing 60. A valverod 62 extends up ward through the pipe 58 and at its upper end isprovided with an iron cylinder 63, loosely slidable in the casing 60 anddisposed within a solenoid coil 65. A light spring 66 is mounted on therod 62 between a collar 61 on the rod and an abutment or flange 68within the pipe 58.

The valve V2 is normally held in lowered position by gravity assisted bythe spring 66, but is raised when the solenoid 65 is energized. When thevalve V2 is raised, the bottom port is opened to permit flow of liquidoxygen to the pipe 42. The upper port is simultaneously closed by thevalve portion 56.

The receptacle 40 is provided with inwardly opening check valves 10 andII, the valve I being opened by gravity and the valve II by a lightspring 12. As soon as liquid oxygen is admitted to the pipe 42 and vaporunder pressure is generated, the pressure is communicated through theliquid in the receptacle 40 and the check valves I0 and II are promptlyclosed.

Pressure in the pipes 42 and 58 is normally equalized by a by-passconnection I5 connected at its lower end to the extension 4| of thereceptacle 40 and at its upper end to a casing I6 containing a checkvalve V3 normally held in raised or open position by a spring 11. A pipeI8 connects the upper end of the casing I6 to the pipe 58 previouslydescribed.

When the starting apparatus is in operation, the pressure in the pipe 42will be communicated through the by-pass connection I6 and through theopen check valve V3 to the pipe 58 and thence to the receptacle 40, sothat there will be no unbalanced pressure on the valve V2.

When operation of the starting apparatus is discontinued, pressure inthe pipes I5 and I8 will drop, and the check valve V3 will be closed bythe pressure normally maintained in the tank 30.

A check valve 80 is mounted at the lower end of the pipe portion 45a andis of the depending or flap type which will open toward the pipe undervery slight pressure but which will close promptly against its seat whenpressure drops in the starting apparatus. A light coil spring ispreferably provided in the casing projection 8| in which the check valve80 is pivoted and assists in closing the valve 80.

In order to secure a quick drop in pressure in the starting apparatus assoon as the chamber C is in full operation, a vent valve V4 is providedin the pipe portion 45a. The valve V4 is pivoted at 90 and is normallypressed downward and closed by a spring 9| surrounding a, rod 92 pivotedto the valve V4 and having an end plate 93. A. double bellows 95 ismounted between the end Ill plate 83 and a fixed bracket 86, and theinterior of the bellows 95 is connected by a pipe 01 to the interior ofthe combustion chamber C.

As pressure rises in the chamber C, the bellows 95 is inflated to openthe vent valve V4, and the check valve immediately closes. The ventvalve V4 will remain open as long as pressure is maintained in thechamber C but will automatically close when the pressure drops toatmospheric on discontinuance of chamber operation.

It is desirable that the ignition device or sparkplug 50 be in operationwhen the solenoid 65 raises the valve V2 to start the generation ofvapor for operating the turbine T and pumps I4, I5 and I6. It is alsodesirable that the solenoid circuit be broken as soon as the vent valveV4 is opened.

Line wires L and L are connected through a double pole switch S to awire I00 extending to the spark-plug 50 and to a wire IOI grounded onthe combustion chamber C or otherwise completing the spark-plug circuit.A branch wire I03 extends from the wire I00 to the solenoid 65, and abranch wire I04 extends from the wire IOI to an insulated contactbracket I05. A return wire I06 connects the solenoid 65 to an insulatedspring contact plate I01 having a depending plunger I 08.

The contacts on the parts I05 and I0! are normally closed to completethe circuit through the solenoid 65 but are opened when the bellowsplate 93 engages and lifts the plunger I08. Consequently, the operatingcircuit of the solenoid 65 is broken at the same time that the ventvalve V4 is opened, but is restored when the vent valve is again closed.

The operation of the several parts of the apparatus has been describedin connection with the detailed description thereof and it is believedthat the general operation will be clearly apparent.

Manual closing of the switch S energizes the spark-plug 50 and alsocauses the solenoid 65 to raise the valve V2, which allows liquid oxygento how through the pipe 42 in the tank 44 to the pipe 45 and its endportion 45a, which latter is connected with the combustion chamberoutlet pipe 20. Evaporation of the liquid oxygen promptly takes place,building up pressure in the pipes 42, 45, 45a, 20 and 20a and startingthe turbine T, which then promptly pumps gasoline and liquid oxygen tothe combustion chamber C where they intermingle and are ignited.

Water is also admitted, producing a substantial volume of steam which isintermingled with the combustion gases under pressure and thereafteroperates the turbine T. Any surplus power may be taken off of the shaftI1, or additional pressurized vapor may be taken off through the pipe20b.

As soon as substantial generation of pressurized vapor takes place. thebellows operator 95 opens' the vent valve V4 and lifts the contactspring plate I01 to break the solenoid circuit and to allow the valve V2to close. At the same time, the check valve 80 automatically closes. Anyliquid oxygen remaining in the receptacle 40 is conserved for the nextoperation.

As soon as the valve V2 drops, the check valves I0 and 'II open and thereceptacle 40 is refilled. When the vent valve V4 opens and the pressurein the pipe 42 drops, the check valve V3 closes and prevents escape ofpressurized liquid oxygen through the pipe 58 and the by-pass connectionpipes I8 and I5.

A simplified construction with manual control is shown in Fig. 3. Astorage tank IIO for liquid oxygen has a filler pipe III and valve Iaand contains a receptacle H2 in which a double valve V5 may be manuallyraised or lowered to alternately open and close ports I I4 and I I5.

At its lower end, the receptacle H2 is connected to a pipe I I8 whichextends downward to a tank I mounted in a casing I2I and having aheat-insulating covering I22. The tank I20 is held in spaced relationwithin the casin I2I by perforated annular partitions I24 of somematerial which is a poor heat-conductor.

A discharge pipe I extends downward from the lower end of the tank I20into a receptacle I 3| which is closed at its lower end and whichconnects with the casing I2I at its upper end.

The receptacle I3I is immersed in water or some other suitable liquid inan open tank I33 and is provided with vanes I35 (Fig. 4) extend-.

surface with which the liquid oxygen engages on the inside of thereceptacle and with which the warming liquid engages on the outside ofthe receptacle I 3I.

vaporization of the liquid oxygen thus takes place quickly, and thegenerated vapor may be taken off through a pipe I31 to a pump-drivingturbine T, as previously described in connection with Fig. 1.

A pipe I38 (Fig. 3) is connected at its lower end into the receptacleI3I and at its upper end into the pipe H8 and serve to equalizepressures above and below a control valve I40 which normally closes thelower end of the tank I20 but which may be manually opened by pullingupward the valve rod I 4|. The tank IIO may be under moderate pressure.

In the operation of this form of the invention, the valves V5 and I40are both normally in lowered position and it may be assumed that thetank I20 is empty.

The valve V5 may now be raised to permit the contents of H2 to flowdownward into the tank I20, after which the valve V5 is pushed downwardand the receptacle II2 refills itself from the liquid oxygen stored inthe tank I I0.

The starting apparatus may now be put in operation by raising the valveI40, that the liquid oxygen in the tank I20 flows down through the pipeI30 to the lower end of the receptacle I3I in which it is rapidlyevaporated and from which pressurized vapor is delivered through thepipe I31.

Production of vapor will continue until the valve I40 is closed and anyliquid remaining in the receptacle I3I is evaporated. The valve I40should be manually closed as soon as the associated combustion chamberis in full operation.

In Fig. 5' an even more simple construction is shown, in which a tankI20a is supplied with liquid oxygen directly through a filler pipe I50having a valve I5I. An equalizing pipe I38a connects to the upper partof the tank I20a, and a valve rod It: extends upward through a suitablepacking I52 and may be manually operated to discharge the liquid oxygenfrom the tank 6 I20a, as described in connection with Fig. 3. The tankI20a may be under moderate pressure.

Having thus described several forms of the invention, the advantages andutility thereof will be readily apparent. It will also be understoodthat the invention is not to be limited to the details herein disclosed,otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what is claimed is:

1. A vapor-generating and control apparatus for a combustion chambercomprising a tank of very cold liquid under pressure, a small innertank, a vapor-generating device connected to said small tank, a receiverfor the vapor, a double valve for said small tank which when in raisedposition permits flow of liquid from said tank to said vapor-generatingdevice,- and which when lowered allows said small tank to fill from saidlarge tank, a by-pass connection around said double valve, and a checkvalve in said connection and opening upward.

2. The combination in a vapor-generating apparatus as set forth in claim1, in which the vapor-generating device comprises a pipe immersed in arelatively warm liquid, and said pipe having a plurality ofheat-transferring discs mounted thereon.

3. The combination in a vapor-generating apparatus as set forth in claim1, in which the vapor-generating device comprises a pipe immersed in arelatively warm liquid, and said pipe having a plurality ofheat-transferring discs mounted thereon, which discs project both inwardand outward of said pipe.

4. The combination in a'vapor-generating apparatus as set forth in claim1, in which the vapor generating device has a discharge pipe and inwhich a check valve is provided in said discharge pipe, which checkvalve opens outward with respect to said vapor-generating device.

5. The combination in a vapor-generating apparatus as set forth in claim3, in which a solenoid is provided to raise the double valve, a circuitis provided for said solenoid, and a pressureresponsive device isprovided which is effective to break the solenoid circuit and releasesaid valve when a predetermined vapor pressure is attained at saidpressure-responsive device.

6. The combination in a vapor-generating apparatus as set forth in claim5, in which a vent valve is provided for said vapor-generating deviceand in which said pressure-responsive device is also simultaneouslyeffective to open said valve and vent said vapor-generating device atsaid predetermined vapor pressure.

ESTHER C. GODDARD, Executria: of the Last Will and Testament of RobertH. Goddard, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,930,731 Thompson Oct. 17, 19332,096,184 Lasley Oct. 19, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date270,146 Italy Dec. 20, 1929

